All Hail, Liberia, Hail!
Two weeks ago I left the States to return to Liberia, with mixed emotions, after a 3+ month visit home. After being home for a long period of time I wondered how quickly I would adjust back to life in W. Africa and on the ship. My return to the ship began with a tearful good-bye in Tampa, Florida. I flew to Washington D.C and ran to my connection that would take me to Brussels, Belgium. In Brussels I would have a long layover before getting on a flight to Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.
While sitting on the plane in D.C., I felt a familiarity and soon realized that many of the people sitting around me were Liberians, living in the USA, returning to their homeland for the inauguration of the newly elected president. There was a festive mood and I immediately felt a connection to my fellow travellers. I was able to chat with them and felt included in their group of about 15. They asked about the ship and wanted to know more. One gentleman sitting behind was a doctor and wanted to see the ship. I told him I'd be happy to show him around while he was in Monrovia and he gave me his card. When I looked at the card his name was very familiar, I asked him, "any relation?" And he said quietly, "I'm her son". It seems I was sitting with Dr. James Sirleaf, the son of the new president of Liberia.
The flight from Brussels to Monrovia was full with many people planning on attending the inauguration of the first elected president since the end of a brutal civil war. Again, there was such a sense of excitement for what this means to their beloved country.
After over 30 hours of travelling, the wheels touched down on the runway of Roberts International airport and the majority of the passengers broke out in song, loudly singing the Liberian national anthem. All Hail, Liberia, Hail! It was very moving and brought a tear to my eye.
At that point I felt a reassurance that this is where God has me for this time.
posted by Jenni @ 11:12 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Jenni V to give the son of the new president of Liberia tour of a Mercy Ship, classic.
[IF]
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
--Rudyard Kipling
33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Acts 10:33-35
Jen- how cool to meet the son of the new president! That is amazing! I am so proud of you for going back and finishing strong. You are a faithful servant, dear sister.
Email me and we can talk wedding details!
lots of love,
Molly
Jenni,
I just am now reading your post (it's 2/18).
That is SO Cool!!!! It gives me chills!
You continue to open my eyes to a part of the world that gets so little coverage by the American media... Thank you!!!
Elizabeth
(oh, and congratulations on your engagement!)
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